Newcastle United chairman Freddy Shepherd has launched a search
for the fifth manager of his reign after asking skipper Alan
Shearer to help drag his side out of a relegation fight.
Shepherds decision to sack Graeme Souness came within hours of
Wednesday nights 3-0 Barclays Premiership defeat at Manchester
City, which left the Magpies 15th in the league table and just six
points clear of third-bottom Birmingham City.
Academy chief and former West Ham United boss Glenn Roeder will be
in charge for Saturdays vital league clash with struggling
Portsmouth at St James Park, with 35-year-old Shearer having taken
a further step towards the hot-seat after being asked to assist the
caretaker boss.
I am obviously saddened at the way things have worked out at St
James Park, said Souness in a brief statement. I have enjoyed
living and working in Newcastle, and my family and I have been made
to feel particularly welcome by the Geordies.
I wish the club, the players and the supporters good fortune and
success going forward.
The Scots departure was confirmed on Thursday morning in a brief
statement from the club.
Newcastle United today (Thursday) announced that the employment of
Graeme Souness has been terminated with immediate effect, it
read.
Glenn Roeder will take charge of first-team affairs for the
immediate future. Roeder will be assisted by captain Alan Shearer
and will be caretaker manager for Saturdays home Premiership game
against Portsmouth at St James Park.
Roeder insists he and the side must now focus on Saturday's
clash.
"All our thoughts, and all our energies will be directed at beating
Portsmouth," he told official club website www.nufc.co.uk.
"All we can do is gather ourselves and go and pick a team that is
going to beat Portsmouth on Saturday afternoon."
"It won't be easy but we will lift the spirits and be very positive
about the whole thing."
After the defeat to Manchester City, Souness admitted he was
feeling the pressure due to the passionate support Newcastle
receive.
It's common knowledge in football that the supporters up here love
their football club and it means so much to them. They are madly,
madly passionate for their football club, said the Scot.
That makes it so attractive, but when you are not winning games,
that can mean there's a big downside to it as well, and you have to
accept that.
But it's a special place to be involved in the football at
Newcastle. I think there are only two or three other clubs in the
country where that passion exists.
Souness has been beset by injuries this season and having club
record summer signing Michael Owen sidelined has been a major blow
in recent weeks as the goals he scored after his arrival had given
the Magpies a boost.
Other high-profile signings were made during Souness time on
Tyneside but failed to have the desired effect.
Albert Luque was signed from Deportivo La Coruna, defender
Jean-Alain Boumsong cost £8million last season and several other
summer signings such as Scott Parker and Emre were recruited.
But ultimately results did not pick up, and Souness downfall came
with the Magpies languishing in 15th place, facing the prospect of
a relegation scrap rather than securing the European place their
expenditure demanded.
